Published: December 11, 2025 – covers developments from November 21, 2025 onward. This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.
Where Coca-Cola Stock Stands Today
The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is trading around $69–70 per share intraday on December 11, 2025, down modestly from late‑November highs above $73 but still well above its 52‑week low of about $60.62. [1]
Over the past 12 months, KO has delivered roughly high‑single- to low‑double‑digit percentage gains, with Zacks/Nasdaq estimating an 11.9% one‑year return, outperforming the soft‑drinks industry but lagging the S&P 500’s ~14.9% rise. [2]
At current levels, Coca‑Cola trades on a mid‑20s price‑to‑earnings (P/E) multiple, a P/E/G ratio around 3.6, and a beta under 0.5, underscoring its profile as a relatively low‑volatility, premium‑valued consumer‑staples stock. [3]
KO Share Price Performance Since November 21, 2025
From November 21, 2025 through December 11, 2025, Coca‑Cola’s share price has been choppy but broadly stable:
- Nov 21: KO jumped 2.44% to close at $72.95, on heavy volume of 26.5 million shares, versus $71.21 the prior day. [4]
- Nov 24–28: The stock hovered around $72.59–73.12, briefly testing near the upper end of its recent range. [5]
- Dec 1 (ex‑dividend date): KO traded around $71.95, then drifted lower over the following days as the dividend adjustment and broader market moves weighed on the price. [6]
- Dec 2–11: Shares eased toward $69–70, with a recent close near $69.34 and an intraday low around $69.02 on December 11. [7]
MarketBeat highlighted the November 21 rally, noting a 2.5% intraday gain to $72.96, with trading volume about 58% above average, and pointed to ongoing analyst optimism and active insider trading. [8]
Meanwhile, a November 21 analysis on Yahoo Finance flagged that KO’s 15% year‑to‑date and one‑year gains at that point raised questions about whether the stock’s surge reflected fair value or stretched valuation. [9]
Huge Governance Shift: Henrique Braun Named Next CEO
The biggest KO headline since late November is Coca‑Cola’s CEO succession announcement:
- On December 10, 2025, the board elected Henrique Braun, the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as CEO effective March 31, 2026.
- Current CEO and Chairman James Quincey will transition to Executive Chairman, remaining heavily involved in the business. [10]
Key details from the official Business Wire release and subsequent coverage:
- Braun, 57, joined Coca‑Cola in 1996 and has held senior roles across Brazil, Latin America, Greater China, South Korea and International Development. [11]
- He became COO on January 1, 2025, overseeing all global operating units. [12]
- The board plans to nominate him to the board at the 2026 Annual Meeting. [13]
- Under Quincey (CEO since 2017), Coca‑Cola added more than 10 additional billion‑dollar brands, expanded into categories like milk, coffee and energy drinks, and grew the share price by nearly 63%. [14]
Reuters notes that the change comes as consumer‑goods companies pivot toward healthier and more affordable beverages and navigate a tougher regulatory landscape. Coca‑Cola’s zero‑sugar and premium products have helped it outperform peers like PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper, but investors expect Braun to keep evolving the portfolio and deepening bottler partnerships. [15]
From a stock‑market perspective, the CEO news has not caused major volatility; shares were roughly flat to slightly up around the announcement, suggesting investors view the move as a continuity‑plus story rather than a disruptive change. [16]
Earnings Momentum: Strong Q3 2025 Sets the Stage
While the third‑quarter numbers were reported in October, they are central to how analysts have been framing KO since late November:
According to Coca‑Cola’s Q3 2025 earnings release: [17]
- Global unit case volume: +1%
- Net revenues: +5% to $12.5 billion
- Organic revenues (non‑GAAP): +6%
- Operating income: +59%; comparable currency‑neutral operating income +15%
- Operating margin:32.0% vs 21.2% a year earlier (comparable margin 31.9% vs 30.7%)
- EPS: +30% to $0.86, with comparable EPS up 6% to $0.82 despite notable FX headwinds
The company also reported:
- Ongoing value‑share gains in non‑alcoholic ready‑to‑drink beverages,
- Strong price/mix growth (+6%), driven by pricing actions and premium offerings,
- Continued success in newer platforms like fairlife and BODYARMOR, and an expanding zero‑sugar portfolio. [18]
Zacks’ December 10 note emphasized that this performance reflects KO’s ability to navigate a complex consumer backdrop via innovation (e.g., Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar, Diet Coke’s revival, premium hydration) and refranchising moves in markets like India and Africa. [19]
Consensus outlook:
StockAnalysis’ forecast tab shows Wall Street expecting: [20]
- 2025 revenue: about $49.7 billion, up ~5.7% from 2024
- 2026 revenue: roughly $52.2 billion, up another 5%
- 2025 EPS: ~$3.08, up 25% year‑over‑year
- 2026 EPS: ~$3.32, up 7.8%
Zacks likewise sees mid‑single‑digit revenue growth and mid‑ to high‑single‑digit EPS growth into 2026, underscoring a steady, not hyper‑growth, profile. [21]
Dividends: Coca‑Cola’s Income Appeal in 2025
Coca‑Cola remains one of the market’s flagship dividend names:
- Quarterly dividend:$0.51 per share
- Annualized dividend:$2.04 per share
- Forward dividend yield: about 2.9–2.94% at current prices
- Last ex‑dividend date:December 1, 2025; payable December 15, 2025. [22]
The board approved its 63rd consecutive annual dividend increase in February 2025, raising the quarterly payout from $0.485 to $0.51 (roughly a 5.2% bump). [23]
Dividend‑tracking sites and StockAnalysis report: [24]
- Dividend growth (1‑year): about 5%
- Average 3‑year dividend growth: around 4–5%
- Payout ratio: roughly 67–68% of earnings
Recent income‑investor commentary (e.g., Motley Fool) has highlighted KO as a Dividend King whose payout has grown for more than six decades, though the 24–25% increase in the quarterly dividend over the last five years has only modestly outpaced, or in some estimates slightly lagged, inflation. [25]
For yield‑focused investors, the message in late 2025 is clear: KO offers reliable, moderately growing income, not sky‑high yield, backed by a very long track record.
Wall Street Ratings and Valuation
Analyst Ratings and Price Targets
As of December 11, 2025, 13 analysts tracked by StockAnalysis give KO an average rating of “Strong Buy”, with: [26]
- Average 12‑month price target:$78.15
- Implied upside: about 13% from ~ $69
- Target range: low $70 to high $83
Recent notable moves:
- BofA Securities: lifted its KO target from $78 to $80, rating “Strong Buy” (Nov 7).
- TD Cowen: maintained “Strong Buy”, moving its target to $80.
- Piper Sandler:“Buy” with a target raised to $81.
- Wells Fargo:“Buy/Overweight” with a $79 target. [27]
MarketBeat’s aggregation similarly shows a consensus “Buy” rating with an average target in the high‑$70s, and notes that one analyst has KO as a Strong Buy, with the rest at Buy. [28]
Premium Valuation Versus Peers
The Zacks/Nasdaq piece from December 10 underscores that KO trades at a premium valuation:
- Forward price‑to‑sales (P/S): about 5.9x, versus ~4.45x for the beverages‑soft‑drinks industry.
- KO also screens as expensive relative to peers like PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper and Zevia, whose forward P/S ratios are materially lower. [29]
MarketBeat’s data puts KO around: [30]
- P/E: roughly 23–24x
- P/E/G: ~3.6–3.9
- Debt‑to‑equity: about 1.3
- Beta: roughly 0.4
Zacks assigns KO a Value Score of “F”, arguing that while the business quality and growth drivers are strong, value‑focused investors may prefer to wait for a better entry point. Existing shareholders, by contrast, may be comfortable holding for the combination of durable earnings, brand moat and dividends. [31]
Short- and Long-Term KO Stock Forecasts
Alongside Wall Street’s fundamental models, several algorithmic and retail‑oriented forecast sites have updated their views since late November.
Technical/Quant Forecasts (Short Term)
CoinCodex (updated December 11, 2025) projects that KO could: [32]
- Rise about 5.9% to around $74.36 by January 10, 2026
- Trade in the $70.23–72.68 range for December 2025, with an average price of $71.65 (implying ~4.8% annual return from current levels)
The site’s technical dashboard shows:
- Sentiment: Bearish
- Fear & Greed Index:39 – “Fear”
- Green days: 13 out of the last 30 (about 43%)
- Recent volatility: around 2% over 30 days
It also publishes long‑term model outputs suggesting KO could reach roughly $80.5 in a year (about 14–15% upside) and potentially cross $100 by 2030, though such distant forecasts are inherently uncertain. [33]
Long-Horizon Retail Forecasts
CoinPriceForecast, a separate model‑driven site, updated KO projections on November 24 and December 1, 2025: [34]
- As of Nov 24, with KO around $72.95, it forecasted a 2025 year‑end price near $79.69 and 2026 year‑end around $82.71 (roughly +13% from that then‑current price).
- The broader 2027‑2031 path envisioned KO climbing into the mid‑$120s, implying cumulative gains of around 50–55% from current levels.
These algorithmic forecasts are not consensus Wall Street estimates and rely heavily on historical trends. They may help frame bullish scenarios but should be treated as speculative, not as guarantees.
New Legal and Regulatory Risks: San Francisco’s Ultraprocessed Foods Lawsuit
One notable late‑2025 risk development is San Francisco’s lawsuit over ultraprocessed foods, filed on December 3, 2025.
According to an Associated Press report carried by Fast Company, the city: [35]
- Named 10 major food manufacturers, including Coca‑Cola, Nestlé, Kraft Heinz and others,
- Argues that ultraprocessed products such as sodas, candy and certain packaged foods contribute to a public‑health crisis,
- Seeks to curb allegedly deceptive marketing, limit advertising to children, require consumer‑health education, and secure financial penalties to offset healthcare costs.
At this stage, financial impact on KO is unknown, and the lawsuit may take years to resolve. However, it signals:
- Rising regulatory and legal pressure on sugary and ultra‑processed products, particularly in U.S. jurisdictions, and
- Potential for tighter labeling, marketing or ingredient rules, which could affect costs and product strategy.
This dovetails with the broader “Make America Healthy Again” push from U.S. health officials and political leaders, which has already prompted Coca‑Cola to commit to a cane‑sugar version of its flagship soda in the U.S. market, as referenced in AP and Business Insider coverage. [36]
Institutional, Insider and Government Activity
Institutional Flows
Recent MarketBeat summaries of 13F filings show: [37]
- Sei Investments Co. raised its KO stake by about 4.9% in Q2, owning over 2.26 million shares valued around $160 million.
- Other major holders like Vanguard Group and Boston Partners also hold substantial positions, with institutional ownership estimated above 70% of shares outstanding.
Insider Trades
MarketBeat also reports: [38]
- Director Max Levchin purchased 7,206 shares in late October, roughly doubling his stake.
- EVP Nancy Quan sold about 31,625 shares in November at around $71.17, part of a broader pattern where insiders sold roughly 225,000 shares (~$16 million) in the last three months.
While individual insider moves can have many motivations, the pattern indicates modest net selling at higher prices, offset by at least one notable board‑level purchase.
Government Trades
A Benzinga “government trades” tracker shows U.S. House members (e.g., Representative Lisa McClain) trading KO shares in 2025, including purchases reported on November 21, under standard congressional disclosure rules. [39]
These flows do not fundamentally change KO’s investment thesis, but they reinforce its status as a widely held, closely watched blue‑chip name among institutions, insiders and policymakers.
What All This Means for KO Heading Into 2026
Putting the post‑November 21 developments together:
Bullish pillars
- Resilient fundamentals: Q3 showed solid organic revenue growth, margin expansion and EPS growth despite FX and macro pressures. [40]
- Strong brands and pricing power: Value‑share gains, premium innovations (fairlife, BODYARMOR) and double‑digit growth in Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar reinforce KO’s ability to raise prices without destroying demand. [41]
- Dividend reliability: A 63‑year streak of dividend increases and a ~2.9% yield give KO enduring appeal for income investors. [42]
- CEO transition from a position of strength: Braun is a deep insider with global operating experience, and Quincey stays on as Executive Chairman, supporting continuity. [43]
Caution flags
- Premium valuation: KO trades at above‑average multiples versus its industry and the broader market; Zacks assigns a weak value score and suggests new investors may want to “stay patient” for a better entry. [44]
- Regulatory and legal risk: The San Francisco ultraprocessed foods lawsuit and health‑policy momentum could increase compliance costs and pressure marketing strategies. [45]
- Slower volume growth in mature markets: Even with Q3 gains, unit case volume growth is modest (+1% globally, flat in North America), with much of the top‑line growth driven by price/mix rather than big new volume. [46]
Bottom line:
- Consensus analysts still see KO as a high‑quality, defensive “Strong Buy” with roughly low‑teens upside over the next 12 months, plus a nearly 3% dividend. [47]
- Quant/technical models are generally cautiously bullish, projecting mid‑single‑digit gains through early 2026 but flagging short‑term bearish technical sentiment. [48]
- For value‑focused or risk‑averse investors, KO may look more like a steady compounder to hold than an obvious bargain to rush into at current multiples.
Anyone considering KO should weigh these factors against their time horizon, risk tolerance and portfolio needs, and—crucially—seek independent professional financial advice before making buy or sell decisions.
FAQs About Coca‑Cola (KO) Stock in Late 2025
1. Is Coca‑Cola (KO) stock a buy right now?
Wall Street consensus rates KO a “Strong Buy” with an average 12‑month target around $78–79, implying roughly 13% upside from the high‑$60s, plus dividends. [49]
However, Zacks currently labels KO a Hold due to its premium valuation, even as it acknowledges strong fundamentals. For new investors, many analysts suggest waiting for pullbacks, while long‑term holders may be comfortable continuing to hold for income and stability. [50]
This is not a personal recommendation—just a summary of published research.
2. Who will be Coca‑Cola’s new CEO, and when does he take over?
Coca‑Cola’s board has elected Henrique Braun, currently Executive Vice President and COO, to become CEO on March 31, 2026. James Quincey will move to the role of Executive Chairman. [51]
3. What is Coca‑Cola’s dividend yield in December 2025?
With a $0.51 quarterly dividend (annualized $2.04) and a share price around $69–70, KO’s forward dividend yield is approximately 2.9–3.0%. [52]
4. How did Coca‑Cola perform in its latest quarter?
In Q3 2025, Coca‑Cola reported:
- Net revenues +5%, organic revenues +6%
- Operating income +59%, with significant margin expansion
- EPS up 30% to $0.86 (comparable EPS +6% to $0.82)
- Global unit case volume +1%
Management reiterated confidence in meeting 2025 guidance. [53]
5. What is the forecast for KO stock into 2026 and beyond?
- Sell‑side analysts see mid‑single‑digit annual revenue growth and high‑single‑digit EPS growth through 2026, with a consensus 12‑month target around $78–79. [54]
- Algorithmic models (e.g., CoinCodex, CoinPriceForecast) project modest upside into 2026 and suggest KO could reach $80–$90+ over the next several years, though such forecasts are highly uncertain. [55]
References
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